Over the years, medical professionals and parents have come to realize that the earlier autism is diagnosed, the better. But what about after the toddler years? What about learning to recognize the signs of autism in preschoolers? How do we best support preschoolers on the autism spectrum?

How are the signs of autism in preschoolers different?

Honestly, the signs of autism in preschoolers are very similar to the signs of autism in toddlers. In fact, there are what you could call “universal signs” or “universal signals” of autism in early childhood. And, it usually starts the same way.

You, as a parent, are concerned about your child’s development.

This may be especially true if your child is in daycare with children of their age group.

First things first, you’ll want to address your concerns with your child’s pediatrician. Unsure of what to ask? I have a sample list of suggestions in my new autism diagnosis toolkit.

The evaluations at this stage are mostly play based and will focus on the following areas of development and ability:

Social

Behavioral

Emotional

Pre-Academic

Based on this initial evaluation, and information provided by you, further steps will be taken to see if your child is eligible for special education services.

May be over or under sensitive to sensory stimuli (ex. smells, sights, sounds, touches, etc.)

Can my autistic preschooler attend a “normal” preschool?

Well, that all depends on your preschooler and the type of support that they’ll need.

Some children on the autism spectrum are gifted or above average. Some may have significant delays in other areas of development that may stop them from participating independently in a classroom setting.

For some children, this may mean going to a specialized school that helps children on the autism spectrum.

For other children, this may mean having that extra layer of support within a typical preschool setting.

It really does depend on the child and the results of their evaluation.

I'm a stay at home mom aspiring to be a work at home mom, and unofficial step mom of two. I enjoy singing with my church choir, spending time with my family, cooking, baking, crafts, and watching Jeopardy.